110 militants killed in Logar, Taliban refute

PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): Local officials on Thursday said more than 100 Taliban militants have been killed during a week-old operation in Kharwar district of central Logar province, but the rebels rejected the claim.

The governor’s spokesman, Salim Saleh, told Pajhwok Afghan News security forces had launched a search operation in the district since a week. So far 110 militants, including six commanders, had been killed and more than 30 wounded during the operation, he said.

The official said the operation in Kharwar, 45 kilometres from Pul-i-Alam, the provincial capital, would continue until the district was cleared of the presence of Taliban militants. “The operation, unparalleled in the past 14 years, is underway under direct leadership of the governor and seems to have good results,” Saleh said.

The official said Taliban had been in control of most parts of the district over the past 14 years and they would plan and execute their attacks in Paktia, Logar and Maidan Wardak provinces from Kharwar.

The provincial council chief, Hasibullah Stanikzai, called the operation as effective and said: “People need security and reconstruction and their protection and security is the government’s duty so that people can live in peace.”

The public representative said security forces after strengthening security should stay in the district.

But a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said only five fighters had been killed in Kharwar district during the week-long clashes, rejecting as baseless the government’s claim about Taliban casualties.

He said security forces were in control of the district centre and the police headquarters only and the Taliban controlled the rest since 2001.